Apparatus for and method of improving circulation in boilers



De. 17, 1935. v V MARTIN, JR 2,024,466

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF" IMPROVING CIRCULATION I N BOILERS Filed Aug. 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l H Jvwawtm. 2 Jesse anmrzm jz H I QM 7W! Dec. 17, 1935. J, c -rm, JR v 2,024,466

APPARATUS FOR-AND METHOD OF IMPROVING CIRCULATION IN BOILERS Filed Aug. 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jig. 2.

Jesse CTMarfin, J:

Dec. 17, 1935. J. c. MARTIN, JR

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF IMPROVING CIRCULATION IN BOILERS Filed Aug. 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jrwemboz Jesse CMarh'me/n J. c. MARTIN, JR 2,024,466

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF IMPROVING CIRCULATION IN BOILERS Y Filed Aug. 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jesse CMan'm, J

Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UlTED STATES 2,024,466 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF IMPROV- PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

My invention relates to the generation of steam and the circulation of Water occasioned by elements positioned between the firebox sheets of the boiler and in communication with the water .spaces surrounding the firebox.

' Among the objects of my invention is the creation of a new and novel water movement along the crown sheet surface of a locomotive firebox, utilizing an improved form of steaming and circulating element which causes the water to traverse the surface of the crown sheet in a definite direction producing an accelerated water movement along the crown sheet surface and within the water level residing thereon, and utilizing the impulse of the steam and water discharged through the element ends to stimulate the water movement as a means of more efficiently preventing crown sheet failures through low water. By the structure of the invention corrosion of the crown sheet is'arrested and the efficiency of the crown sheet as a steam generating surface is increased under normal operating conditions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a steaming and circulating element by which steam and water will be discharged through the element outlet or outlets with specific direction over the crown sheet surface of a locomotive firebox, and will not burst or geyser up through the water level and reduce the quality of the steam by increasing its saturation and give rise to priming of the water over the crown sheet causing false readings in the water level indicating devices of the boiler.

Another object of my invention is to create a specifically directed spray of steam and water out of the element ends over the crown sheet after its surface has been bared through low water, thereby efficiently wetting it and preserving its integrity at the period of low water from the destructive heat of combustion within the firebox and deferring fatal boiler explosions arising out of a bared crown sheet surface.

A further object of my invention is to increase the efficiency of steam generation on the crown sheet surface of the firebox of a locomotive boiler by scrubbing off the adhering steam bubbles in a new and novel current of water created through the structure of my invention,an increased rate of heat transfer being occasioned by the velocity of the water set up along itssurface, resulting in fuel saving.

Another object of my invention, through the initiating of a rapidly moving current of water along the crown sheet of the firebox, contemplates arresting corrosion and pitting of its surface which now takes place by reason of the slow removal of the steam bubbles generated in the ordinary currents of water over the crown sheet and which dormant bubbles give rise through minute exposures of the crown sheet surface to attack 5 by free oxygen and corrosive elements of the water, and by keeping the crown sheet surface scoured of steam bubbles and covered with fast moving water, as created by the structure of my invention, chemical action against steam bubble exposure of its surface as well as in spots where scale has beenv removed from it by bombarding, is effectually prevented.

A further object of my invention is to employ a plurality of steaming and circulating elements 15 having water inlets through the lower leg portions of the firebox and steam and water discharge outlets through the crown sheet of the firebox into the water space over the crown sheet which will create water currents with velocity and sweeping eifect in the water carried on the crown sheet and in such manner that the currents will follow the crown sheet surface in tandem to more completely traverse it, or the specifically directioned currents of water as set up by my invention may be said to traverse the crown sheet surface in co-acting stages, the discharge outlets being so situated that when the velocity of water movement is substantially dissipated it will be picked up andcarried on by the discharge outlet of another element.

A further object of my invention is to create tandem water movements along the crown sheet surface of a locomotive firebox which will carry the water forward with velocity toward the highest point or front end thereof as first exposed by low water, and after the exposure of its surface to create spreading sprays of steam and water which will retard its overheating and failure.

Other features and advantages of my improved structure will appear from the following description or illustrative embodiments thereof and will make themselves manifest as my invention is extended in service and a greater knowledge concerning it is obtained through its practical adaptation.

'In order to fully comprehend my invention, reference is made to the illustrative embodiments thereof as shown in thedrawings, in which:

Fig. l is a sectional side elevation of the firebox of a locomotive boiler containing my improved steaming and circulating elements, the tubular ends of the elements over the crown sheet being shown in section to better illustrate the relative position of these ends, as providing the element outlets, in respect to the crown sheet and the water indicating gauges on the boiler head. The firebox is typical with refractory brick arch supported on the elements and arch tubes, for coal burning;

Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical plan view of the crown sheet of the firebox with the. wrapper sheet in section on line 3-3, Fig. 1, showing generally the direction of the novel water currents set up by one form of my invention in the water on the crown sheet at lower gauge cock level .B-B,

Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section on line 4-4, Fig. 3, on a reduced scale showing the water currents created within the water on the crown sheet at center gauge cock level as denoted by line AA, Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a like view except showing the water on the crown sheet immediately at the highest point of the crown sheet below which it will be bared, being taken at line CC, Fig. 1, below any water level reading obtainable in the gauge glass of the boiler'water column, and illustrating at this dangerously low point how the steam and water is sprayed out of the element ends in a spreading mass in the formation of an extended wetted protective covering over the exposed crown sheet surface;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the element ends as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, while Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of an elongated element end to illustrate how the structure of my invention may be applied to other than the cylindrical tubular shaped elements of Figs. 1, 2 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the crown sheet showing how the element end of Fig. 6 may be positioned to create water currents within the water level along the crown sheet surface transversely thereof and toward its longitudinally extending center line, while Fig. 9 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 8 with elements of Fig. 7 having their ends positioned to create transverse water movements over the slopes of the crown sheet surface.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the device is applied to the sheets of a locomotive firebox.

' The mud ring of a boiler is indicated at ID, the

V throat sheet is indicated at l3, the side sheets at l4, l5, and the crown sheet at l6.

invention are applied to hollow water circulating and steam generating elements l8 and IS. The elements l8 are shown as opening through the throat sheet at the position 20 and as extending rearwardly and upwardly and opening through the crown. sheet at 2|. The elements l8 are indicated as forming a portion of the support of the fire arch 22 and for additional portions of the support of the fire arch there are shown tubular members 23 opening through the throat sheet l3 and through the door sheet 24 in accordance with the usual practice.

Other elements to which the invention is shown as applied are in the form of hollow elements 25 shown as opening through a lower portion of the side sheets 14, l5 and through the crown sheet at a higher point thereof than the. openings of elements l8. The last named elements take water from the side water legs and each of the elements 3 and 25 is disposed to receive water from the water spaces of the boiler at a lower portion thereof where the water is cooler and by the circulation set up by the heating of the water in the hollow elements active circulation 5 is produced causing a vigorous flow of water through the upper end thereof into the water and steam space about their said upper ends.

In the form of the invention shown for illustration the water is delivered above the crown sheet. To deflect the course of the water flowing. out of the hollow elements the baffle members I! are shown as inclined to deliver the water in the direction desired. Preferably these baflie members are curved in cross section, as clearly shown inthe drawings, to more efficiently deflect the course of the discharge without an undue production of eddies.

Also in the form of the invention illustrated the baflle members are so spaced from the openings of the hollow elements, as indicated at 26, as to permit a minor portionof the water to be discharged in the opposite direction from the major portion thereof in order to wash away sediment tending to collect upon the firebox sheet or about the said opening.

A convenient manner of supporting the baffie members is shown as comprising portions 21, 28 of the walls of the hollow elements extending beyond the point of opening thereof and 30 turned into overlapping relation as at 29, which overlapping portions are perforated and tapped for the reception of staybolts 39 which connect the wall portions 21, 28 to the wrapper sheet 31 of the boiler. The baffle members I! are shown 35 as attached to the extending portions 21, 28 by welding.

In the form of the invention of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive each of the hollow elements opens through the crown sheet at a position spaced from the highest point of the crown sheet. In the form of the invention of Figs. 8 and 9 the said elements open through the crown sheet at points laterally spaced from the crest of the center line of the crown sheet and the baffle elements I! thereof are disposed to direct the discharge transversely of the boiler and toward said crest.

It will be seen that the invention is applicable to hollow elements passing through the firebox and opening through the inside side sheets thereof at any portion above their intake with the baffle members so placed as to direct the discharge intoa course substantially parallel with the said sheet through which the element opens whereby to: sweep bubbles of steam from the surface of the firebox sheet adjacent the opening. To achieve thefull value of the invention, the most eiiective points of its application are those illustrated as applied to the crown sheet.

In Fig. 1 is'indicated the water column at 32 provided with a gauge glass 33 and gauge cocks As well understood by those in the art, the lower gauge cook 34 is placed at the point of normal low water and it is the endeavor of the operator to ensure that water does not fall below the level of the lowest gauge cock, which level is indicated at line 8-13 on Fig. 1. The correct level of the water of the boiler is indicated at central gauge cock 34 at level AA. Line C-C on Fig. 1 indicates low water at a level which is the beginning of the danger point, that is, at a point below which thehighest point 35 of the crown sheet would be bared. v As indicated in the objects of the invention, should level C-C be reached or' the level drop below this Til point, the operation of the structure of the invention would still tend to prevent disaster by maintaining a wetting of the crown sheet, which would otherwise be dry and rapidly become heated to redness thereby causing danger of failure of the crown sheet and a consequent boiler explosion.

The tandem arrangement of the elements [8 25 provides a series of impulses of water over the crown sheet tending to move the water toward the highest point 35 thereof. While but two outlets are shown in tandem it will be understood that other elements 25 maybe applied to increase this successive impulse of movement toward the highest point 35 if desired. 1

Figs. 6 and 8 show the preferred form of th baffle of the invention as applied to an element of circular cross section. Figs. 7 and 9 show the preferred form of baflie as applied to a flattened element.

The form of baflie shown in Fig. '7 is not only curved transversely but the ends 36 thereof are also curved downwardly and spaced from the edge 3'! of the open end of the hollow element so as to provide for a minor discharge laterally as well as rearwardly and for the major discharge as already indicated.

In all of the illustrative views I have shown a preferred construction of my invention in which the steaming and circulating tubes have a bafdo or member, for deflecting the steam and water discharged through their crown she'et outlets, situated in portions of the tube wall extending beyond the opening in the crown sheet around which they are welded and in which the extending portions are connected by staybolts to the wrapper sheet of the firebox, although I. desire it to be understood that the new and novel features and advantages of my structure can be carried out in any steaming and circulating element having its outlet through the crown sheet of the firebox and its end supported from the wrapper sheet of the firebox in protecting the welded seal between the crown sheet and the element against tensile strains.

The member which I provide over the outlet of the element end has the ability to baffle or deflect the steam and water discharged through the outlet as a current creating means for carrying the Water over the crown sheet along its suriace as well as to create a spray of saturated steam. and water over the crown sheet surface if it is bared by low water, acting in the capacity of a nozzle in the latter case and as an impeller of the water along the crown sheet surface when its mouth is submerged beneath the water.

incorporated in the element end may be formed as a casting or fashioned of metal plate as in the case of the illustrative showing herewith, and its inner surface formed so that eddying currents, which would reduce the velocity of the discharge and the efliciency of the main current created thereby, will be eliminated. As

This current or spray producing mem- By the arrangement of tandem deflection of the steam and water discharged through the element ends as shown, I can cause the water to traverse in currents along the crown sheet surface with such speed as desired by adding such number of elements as will pick up lagging element currents and accelerate the movement of these currents forward toward the higher portion of the crown sheet. This form of water movement created by the invention is particularly desirable in the longer sloping crown sheets of modern locomotive fireboxes.

Whether I create the new and novel currents of my invention longitudinally along the surface of the firebox as shown in the tandem structure of Fig. 1 or transversely along its surface by deflecting steam and water discharged through the element outlets as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, my purpose is to traverse these surfaces with a fastmoving water current or currents which will most efliciently sweep their extent in the particular firebox wherein my structure is applied.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiments of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. In a steam generating boiler, in combination: a hollow element passing through a portion of the firebox from a lower to a higher portion thereof, and opening through the crown sheet at a position removed from a higher portion thereof; the lower end of said element in circulatory communication with the water spaces of the boiler; and a baffle member contained within the periphery of the opening through the crown sheet for receiving said element; said bafiie member upwardly inclined toward said higher portion with its lower edge spaced from an edge of said opening whereby to allow a minor portion of the Water discharged from said opening to flcwthrough said space and to direct a major portion of discharge toward said higher portion.

2. In a steam generating boiler, in combination: a series of hollow elements passing through portions of the firebox from a lower to a higher portion thereof; the lower end of each element in circulatory communication with the water space of the boiler; the higher end of each. element of the series opening through the crown sheet at points successively spaced a greater distance from the highest portion thereof; a bafiie member associated with the said opening of each element and inclined to direct circulatory discharge from each element toward said highest portion whereby to cause successive impulses in a current of circulation along the crown sheet from lower portions toward said highest portion thereof.

3. In a steam generating boiler, in combination: a hollow element passing through a portion of the firebox; the lower end thereof in circuit. tory communication with the water space of the boiler; the upper end of the element passing through and sealed to the edges of an opening of a firebox sheet; spaced portions of the walls of said element projecting into the space between the firebox and wrapper sheets; an clined baffle member carried between and c nected at its edges to said wall portions; one edge of said member adjacent but spaced from an edge of said opening, the opposite edge of said bafile relatively distant from the opposite side of said opening, and means to connect said wall portions to the wrapper sheet.

4. The method of preserving a wetted crown sheet during abnormally low water conditions in a boiler which comprises: discharging a plurality of streams of water and steam upon the surface of crown sheet at points successively further from the highest portion of the sheet; causing each of said streams of discharge to sweep over the surface of the sheet toward said highest portion.

5. The method of improving the steaming characteristics of a boiler and preserving the integrity of the crown sheet thereof which comprises: discharging tandem streams of steam and water along the crown sheet surface; and causing the successive currents created in the Water on the crown sheet to sweep from the crown sheet surface, bubbles of steam forming thereon; and giving to any bared crown sheet surface a wetting of sprayed steam and water.

6. In a boiler structure, in combination: a plurality of steaming and water circulating elements; each of said elements having an inlet through a lower firebox sheet and an outlet through the crown sheet of the firebox; the outlets of said elements arranged in tandem; each of said outlets having baffles constructed and arranged for discharging steam and water through said outlets in the same general direction over the top of the firebox crown sheet.

7. In a boiler structure, in combination: spaced firebox and wrapper sheets; a hollow element exposed to heat in the firebox and connected to form a portion of the water circulating and steam generating space of the boiler; an end of said element projecting through and sealed to the edges of an opening in the firebox sheet; portions of said end projecting into the space between said sheets in spaced apart relation to provide an opening into said space; a plate portion joined to the respective opposite portions and spaced from the wrapper sheet to provide a staybolt connection; a staybolt joining said plate portion to the wrapper sheet and a baffle plate mounted between and carried by said spaced apart portions, opposite said opening and inclined to direct water circulating through said opening in a desired direction.

8. In a boiler structure, in combination: a tubular steaming and circulating element exposed to heat in the firebox having its ends sealed to the firebox sheets and in circulatory communication with the water space surrounding the firebox; the upper end of said element. having its walls extending through an openingin the firebox crown sheet and terminating in an elbow having an outlet in the space between the crown sheet and firebox wrapper sheet; said elbow comprising portions of said walls and a plate fitted between said portions; and said outlet having an edge closely adjacent the edge of the opening in the crown sheet through which the element extends.

9. In a boiler structure, in combination: a hollow element exposed to heat in the firebox having its ends sealed to the firebox sheets and in circulatory communication with the water space surrounding the firebox; the upper end of said element having its walls extending through an opening in the firebox crown sheet into the space between the crown sheet. and firebox wrapper sheet; a portion of said walls cut away to provide one edge of an opening therethrough into said space substantially inline with the edge of the element opening through the crown sheet; an elbow plate fitted between the remaining portion of said extending walls to provide another edge of the element opening into said space opposite said first named edge; and the edges of the remaining wall portion between which said plate is fitted providing'the completing edges of said opening into said space.

10. A water circulating and steam generating element for connection to the firebox sheets of a locomotive boiler and in circulatory communication with the water spaces surrounding the firebox comprising: a metal tube having portions of its walls cut away at each end thereof and having the metal of the'remaining portions of its walls joined together to form staybolt connections; said staybolt connections being the termini of the element ends; one end of said' element adapted for connection to a higher portion of the firebox than the other and having an elbow plate fitted between the joined portions of the tubular walls to form with said walls an outlet therethrough for steam and water; and the space between the cutaway portions of the tubular walls at the lower connecting end of the element providing an inlet for water through said walls.

11. In a boiler structure, in combination: a tubular steaming and circulating element exposed to heat in the firebox having its ends sealed to the firebox sheets and in circulatory communication with the water space surrounding the firebox; the top end of said element having its walls extending through an opening in the firebox crown sheet into the space between the crown sheet and firebox wrapper sheets; means for forming an elbow in the top end of said element comprising an opening for the reception of an elbow plate in the extending portion of said walls; said opening having vertical sides and its edge closely following the edge of the element opening through the crown sheet; and an elbow plate set between the vertically extending sides of said opening over said edge.

12. A boiler structure comprising, in combination: spaced firebox and wrapper sheets; a tubular element exposed to heat in the firebox and connected to form a portion of the water circulating and steam space of the boiler; an end of said element having its walls projecting through an opening in the firebox crown sheet into the space between the firebox and wrapper sheets and sealed to the edges of said opening;

a laterally opening passage through said walls into said space, said walls terminating beyond said passage in a staybolt connection; a baiile plate in said passage below said connection secured to the projecting portion of the element walls; and a staybolt engaging said connection and the wrapper sheet; the remaining end of said element connected to the water space of the boiler.

13. A boiler structure comprising, in combination: spaced firebox and wrapper sheets; a tubular element exposed to heat in the firebox and connected to form a portion of the water circulating and steam space of the boiler; an end of said element having its walls projecting through an opening in the firebox crown sheet into the space between the firebox and wrapper sheets and sealed to the edges of said opening; a laterally opening passage through said walls into said space; a ballle plate in said passage joined to said walls, a staybolt connection in said walls independent of said bafiie member; and a staybolt engaging said connection and the wrapper sheet; the remaining end of said element connected to the water space of the boiler.

JESSE C. MARTIN, JR. 

